It WAS going to Madagascar, but plague broke out there. They didn't compromise, we didnt for instance, call in at Zanzibar as last minute port space apparently unavailable. Just awful port of call at Mozambigue (an island, desperately poor) and 5 sea days, ugh!!! luckily calm seas... nothing to do all day. OK for those lounging x pool but hardly any activities and those there were, very uninteresting. One of the entertainers put on CRAFT, certainly the ship didn't bother unless he had. Days at sea extremely boring. A XMAS/New Year cruise. Hardly ANY decorations and the Xmas day fare was shocking, totally inappropriate. No turkey roast, no gravy, no Xmas pudding. A horrid, horrid menu. NYE not much better. There was a big gap between finishing dinner and when the festivities started around the pool, just sat and looked at each other. A dessert spread laid out, not really interesting. No flowers on tables in dining rooms (told, Xmas decorations took up all the room, WHAT decorations were those?!!) nor attempts to Christmasise the atmosphere, sad. Worst Season on a ship ever. Some years ago, SUN Princess whopped up its Xmas cruise, decs. at all cabin doors, everywhere else, dining tables, adorning steps down to foyer, wonderful NYE's celebrations with champers pyramid, carols, great Xmas music, etc. etc. Went to so much trouble. Hand hygiene NOT attended to, a few hand squirt machines at dining entries, but no attempt to ensure passengers used them. One lecturer who stuck to his boring subjects with heavy Germanic accent, hard to discern. Didn't attend any lectures in consequence... Horrid DARK chocolates in cabin at night. Naturally shore excursions pricey but overall quite good. My butler and cabin girl were good and got what I asked for without hesitation. Other passengers weren't so lucky, complaining bitterly about their cabin staff... LOVED 3 nights Seychelles prior embarkation, helped bond with other passengers and lovely location.